Manufacture of spar insulators.



FRED M. LOOKE, OF

VICTOR, NEW YORK.

MANUFACTURE OF SPAR INSULATORS.

Application filed November 24, 1905.- Serial No. 288,974.

' T all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, FRED M. Locks, of

Victor, in the county of Ontario, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Spar Insulators, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of feldspar insulators for high potential electric conductors in which pure mineral or artificial feldspar in its natural state is brought to a pliable or moldablecondition by the apph cation of heat and is then molded into the desired form of insulator and allowed to cool.

I am aware that it is common practice to manufacture glass insulators under heat and then molding the fluent into the desired form,

' but I believe I am the first to produce 'a purely feldspar insulator or one in which feldspar forms the basic element and that I am the first to discover its superior insulating qualities under all climatic conditions such as thermal changes and varying conditions of humidity of the atmosphere.

It is well known that glass is highly resistive toelectric conductivity or puncturebility by hi h potential currents, but it is equally well nown that the fragile nature of glass renders it impracticable for use in the manufacture of large high potential insula tors owing to its susceptibility to expansion and contraction and consequent breakage undervarying climatic conditions or tem peratures and also to the fact that, when punctured by an electric current, itusually goes to pieces, thereby rendering it unfit to perform any further function as an insulator or support for the conductor.

Owing to its extreme fragility, glass insulators have largely been substituted by what is commonly more tenaclous and homogeneous and is, therefore, less fragile and capable of withstanding greater climatic and temperature changes without breaking but is nevertheless less resistive to puncture and static discharges. I have, therefore; sought to produce an insulator which possesses not only the high resistive power of glass together with the toughness and homogeneity of porcelain, but one which is not materially affected by var ing climatic changes or temperatures an which retains its integrity even though. punctured by electric current, and also reduces static discharges to a minimum which is scarcely perceptible under ex- Specification of Letters. Patent.

known as porcelain which is Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

REISSUEI Z tremely high voltage electric currents.

i other words, my object is to economically produce a cellular insulator having the nonpuncturable or highly resistive quality of glass together with a mechanical strength I equal or superiorto that of porcelain so that it may be used in all climates for the sup ort of electric conductors carrying'the hig est voltage currents .without liability of disintegration, destructive puncturability or excessive static discharges and while the insulator is specifically adapted for high voltage conductors, it may be economically manufactured and sold for use as an ordinary insulator for low'voltage conductors.

In the manufacture of these feldspar insulators, the common mineral feldspar, as for example potash-spar is placed in a suitable receptacle and reduced by heat at a temperature of 8- pyrometric cone to a pliable homogeneous condition, susceptible to being molded into any desired form in which condition it is placed in a suitable mold for forming the insulator desired-and allowed to cool. This fusion of the feldspar drives off the gas and causes the particles or minute globules to knit or adhere with great tenacity, leaving a homogeneous mass withinnumerable minute cells formed presumably by the liberated gases and which are uniformly distributed throughout the solidity of the molded mass. This produces what may be termed a cellular structure although the cells are scarcely perce tible to the naked eye.

rom the ex eriments which I have thus far conducted, -am convinced that the superior insulating qualities and mechanical strength of an insulator thus formed is due to its uniform cellular nature, and although cellular in its general structure or body, its surface appears to be practically impervious to moisture,whieh is ighly important in preventing static discharges and current leaka es. I I After the material has been brought to a molten state, it is found to be extremely pliable, but not in liquid form and when subjected to pressure, it appears to be more or less elastic like soft rubber, but if this pressure iscontinued, it is found to retain the form into which it is pressed so that an insulator ma be readilv molded by placing a pliable molten mass between suitable molds which are brought together under pressure and 11 'to glaze the surface of the insulator to add additional insulating properties, but the es.- sential feature of my Invention is to produce a cellular insulator, preferably from any feldar. Y What I claim is: I In the manufaotureof insulators, subject-. ing common feldspar, such for example, as potash-spar to a temperature of--8- pythe heated pliable felds ar into an insulator 15 of the desired form an allowing it to-cool while still in the mold.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 16th day of November,1905.

FRED M, LOCKE. Witnesses:

G. T. GURTIs,

W. W. HIBBARD. 

